Peach tree named &#34;JULIENICE&#34;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of peach tree, denominated ‘JULIENICE’, has a higher earlier bloom, a longer lifetime and bigger fruits. Moreover, trees are very vigorous.

This application claims priority of Community plant variety right No. 2005/0900 filed on May 18, 2005 which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Prunus persica (L.) Batsch — Yellow Peach.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of prunus persica (L.) Batsch yellow peach tree. This tree, named ‘JULIENICE’, produces very long lifetime, good eating quality, semi-freestone flesh fruit for fresh market in July in the 66 — Pyrénées Orientales — France. Contrast is made to ‘MAILLARGOOD’ peaches, standard varieties, for reliable description. ‘JULIENICE’ is a promising candidate for commercial success in that it has a higher earlier bloom, a longer lifetime and bigger fruits. Moreover, trees are very vigorous.

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

‘JULIENICE’ peach tree (genotype) originated in a cultivated area of the south of France, in the 66 — Pyrénées Orientales — France where it was tested. This place is under a Mediterranean climate in a temperate area characterized by irregular and low precipitation with drought in summer, high temperatures all year long. The ‘JULIENICE’ variety was obtained by controlled sowing from open-pollination of ‘MAILLARGOOD’. ‘JULIENICE’ was provisionally designated and tested as 01.24.14 PJ and is registered at the Official Catalogue of the Agriculture Ministry of the French Republic Dec. 29, 2004 under number 1016563. It was obtained from open-pollination and is propagated by grafting. It has been determined to have unique tree and fruit characteristics making it worthy for commercial fresh fruit production. There are no known effects of this standard rootstock on this scion cultivar. Asexually propagated plants remained true to the original tree and all characteristics of the tree and the fruit were transmitted. The plant was reproduced asexually situated at Les Regalines, Route d'Alenya, La Prade de Mousseillous, 66200 ELNE, Pyrénées Orientales, France.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

The new and distinct variety of peach tree blooms with ‘JULIENICE’ peach in March at Perpignan in the Pyrénées Orientales, France. More particularly, it blooms at the same time as ‘MAILLARGOOD, between 9^(th) and 22^(nd) of March.

The fruit of ‘JULIENICE’ first ripens at the end of August and beginning of September 10 days after ‘O HENRY MERCIL’. More particularly, it approximately ripens between August 26^(th) and Sep. 5^(th).

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawing, which are as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make in a colour illustration of this type:

FIG. 1 is a colour photograph which shows the flesh of the fruit of the new variety ‘JULIENICE’.

FIG. 2 is a colour photograph which shows a typical specimen of the fruit of the new variety ‘JULIENICE’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The tree, flowers, and fruit may vary in slight detail due to variations in soil type, cultural practices, and climatic condition. The potential for commercial production of fresh fruit by ‘JULIENICE’ is high, due to its early ripening, its evenness of maturity.

Trees are very vigorous and medium stature half-standing in a semi-spread out aspect.

The flowering shoot is present excluding brushwoods side away from sun. Flowering begins medium in springtime. The type of flower is showy and rosaceous with relative large petal size. Petals are pale pink. Two or three peach leaf glands are present and reniform. Time of maturity for consumption is late. The fruit flesh is yellow and its skin is red. The stone is medium size and the flesh is adherent.

Compared to ‘MAILLARGOOD’ variety, ‘JULIENICE’ blooms 2 days before and has more flowers 30 to 35 per meter instead of 25 to 30 flowers per meter for ‘MAILLARGOOD’. Fruit setting is very good, nearly 100%, where ‘MAILLARGOOD’ fruit setting is good. ‘JULIENICE’ has an older maturity, 4 days after ‘MAILLARDGOOD’. ‘JULIENICE’ variety is more vigorous. Fruit flesh is orange yellow without red pigmentation instead of ‘MAILLARGOOD’ flesh colour. ‘JULIENICE’ tastes balanced and semi soft, more aromatic instead of acidulated for ‘MAILLARGOOD’. Fruits are bigger.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring more specifically to the pomological details of this new and distinct variety of peach tree, the following has been observed during the fruiting season under the ecological conditions prevailing at Elne which is located in the Pyrénées Orientales, France.

-   Tree: -   Size:     -   -   Generally.—Considered medium and large as compared to other             common commercial peach cultivars ripening in the middle             season of maturity.         -   Vigor.—Considered very vigorous.         -   Productivity.—Very Productive. Fruit set is spaced by             thinning to develop the remaining fruit into the desired             market sized fruit. The number of the fruit set varies with             the prevailing climatic conditions, and cultural practices             employed during the bloom period, and is therefore not             distinctive of the present variety.         -   Bearer.—Regular. Fruit set has been heavy during the years             of observation and thinning was necessary during the past 3             years.         -   Form.—Upright semi-standing, and pruned to a vase             semi-spread out shape.         -   Density.—Considered dense.         -   Hardiness.—The present tree was grown and evaluated in             France. The variety appears to be hardy under typical             central Pyrénées Orientales climatic conditions. -   Trunk:     -   -   Diameter.—Considered average.         -   Bark texture.—Considered moderately rough, with numerous             folds of papery scarfskin being present.         -   Lenticels.—Numerous flat, oval lenticels are present.         -   Lenticel colour.—Considered brown.         -   Bark colouration.—Variable, but it is generally considered             to be a medium grey-brown. -   Branches:     -   -   Size.—Considered medium for the variety.         -   Diameter.—Average as compared to other peach varieties.         -   Surface texture.—Average, and appearing furrowed on wood             which is several years old.         -   Crotch angles.—Primary branches are considered variable.             This particular characteristic is not considered distinctive             of the variety, however. -   Current season shoots:     -   -   Surface texture.—Substantially glabrous.         -   Internode length.—Considered average.         -   Colour of mature branches.—Medium brown. -   Current seasons shoots:     -   -   Colour.—Light green. The colour of new shoot tips is             considered a bright and shiny green. -   Leaves:     -   -   Size.—Considered medium to large for the species. Leaf             measurements have been taken from vigorous, upright,             current-season growth at approximately mid-shoot.         -   Leaf length.—Considered average.         -   Leaf width.—Considered average.         -   Leaf base shape.—Slightly oblique relative to the leaf             longitudinal axis.         -   Leaf form.—Lanceolate. Considered to be relatively narrow             for the species.         -   Leaf tip form.—Reniform. -   Leaf colour:     -   -   Upper leaf surface.—green.         -   Leaf texture.—Glabrous.         -   Leaf colour.—green.         -   Lower surface.—Medium green.         -   Leaf venation.—Pinnately veined. -   Mid-vein:     -   -   Colour.—Light yellow green.         -   Leaf margins.—Slightly undulating.         -   Form.—Considered crenate.         -   Uniformity.—Considered generally uniform.         -   Leaf glands:         -   Size.—Considered medium.         -   Length.—About 8.0 to about 10.0 mm.         -   Diameter.—About 1.0 to about 2.0 mm.         -   Colour.—Pale green. -   Leaf glands:     -   -   Size.—Considered medium.         -   Number.—Generally one gland per margin side. Occasionally             two glands per margin side.         -   Type.—Reniform.         -   Colour.—Considered a pale orange. -   Leaf stipules:     -   -   Size.—Medium large for the variety.         -   Number.—Typically 2 per leaf bud and up to 4 per shoot tip.         -   Form.—Lanceolate in form and having a serrated margin.         -   Colour.—Green, when young, but graduating to a brown colour,             with advancing senescence. The stipules are considered to be             early deciduous. -   Flowers: -   Flower buds:     -   -   Generally.—The floral buds, depending upon the stage of             development, are conic in form; and slightly appressed             relative to the bearing shoot. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Colour.—This characteristic is dependent upon the proximity             to bloom. The bud scales are deep purple. The buds are             considered hardy under typical central Pyrénées Orientales             climatic conditions.         -   Hardiness.—No winter injury has been noted during the last             several years of evaluation in the central Pyrénées             Orientales. The current variety has not been intentionally             subjected to drought or heat stress, and therefore this             information is not available.         -   Date of bloom.—early March, between March 9^(th) and             22^(nd).         -   Blooming time.—Considered early-season in relative             comparison to other commercial peach cultivars grown in the             Pyrénées Orientales, France. The date of full bloom is             observed on March. The date of bloom varies slightly with             climatic conditions and cultural practices.         -   Duration of bloom.—Approximately 15 days. This             characteristic varies slightly with the prevailing climatic             conditions.         -   Flower type.—The variety is considered to have a showy             rosaceous type flower.         -   Flower size.—Flower diameter at full bloom approximately             34.0 to about 38.0 millimeters.         -   Bloom quantity.—Considered abundant, approximately from 30             to 35 flowers per meter.         -   Flower bud frequency.—Normally 3 to 4 flowers buds appear             per node. -   Petal size:     -   -   Generally.—Considered large for the species.         -   Length.—Considered average.         -   Width.—Considered average.         -   Petal form.—Slightly ovoid.         -   Petal count.—Nearly always 5.         -   Petal texture.—Glabrous.         -   Petal colour.—Pink.         -   Fragrance.—Slight. -   Petal claw:     -   -   Form.—The claw is considered generally ovoid and has a             medium size when compared to other varieties.         -   Length.—Considered average.         -   Width.—Considered average.         -   Petal margins.—Generally considered variable, from nearly             smooth to slightly ruffled, to moderately undulate. -   Petal apex:     -   -   Generally.—The petal apices are generally entire at the tip. -   Flower pedicel:     -   -   Length.—Considered medium-long.         -   Diameter.—Considered average.         -   Colour.—A medium brown. -   Floral nectaries:     -   -   Colour.—A dull orange.         -   Calyx:         -   Surface texture.—Generally glabrous.         -   Colour.—Purple. -   Sepals:     -   -   Surface texture.—The surface has a short, fine pubescent             texture.         -   Size.—Average, and ovate in form.         -   Colour.—A deep purple. -   Anthers:     -   -   Generally.—Average in length.         -   Colour.—Red to reddish-orange dorsally.         -   Pollen production.—Pollen is abundant, and has a yellow             colour. The present variety is considered self fruitful             (self-pollinating). -   Filaments:     -   -   Size.—Length is variable and is considered average.         -   Colour.—Considered light pink. -   Pistil:     -   -   Number.—Usually 1, rarely 2.         -   Generally.—Average in size.         -   Length.—Considered average. including the ovary.         -   Colour.—Considered a very pale green.         -   Surface texture.—The variety has a long glabrous pistil. -   Fruit:     -   -   Maturity when described.—Firm ripe condition (shipping             ripe).         -   Date of picking.—The date of harvest varies slightly with             the prevailing climatic conditions, generally between August             26^(th) and September 5^(th). -   Size:     -   -   Generally.—Considered large, and uniform.         -   Average cheek diameter.—Considered average.         -   Average axial diameter.—Considered average.         -   Typical weight.—Approximately between 200.0 and 300.0 grams.             This characteristic is high dependent upon the prevailing             cultural practices, and therefore is not particularly             distinctive of the variety. -   Fruit form:     -   -   Generally.—Considerably oblate. The fruit is generally             uniform in symmetry.         -   Fruit suture.—Very shallow and smooth, extending from the             base to the apex. No apparent callousing or stitching exists             along the suture line. -   Suture:     -   -   Colour.—This has an orange background colour. -   Ventral surface:     -   -   Form.—Only slightly indented.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Generally retuse.         -   Stem cavity.—Generally elongated in the suture plane. -   Fruit skin:     -   -   Thickness.—Considered medium in thickness, and tenacious to             the flesh.         -   Texture.—Low pubescent.         -   Taste.—very sweet, very aromatic.         -   Tendency to crack.—None observed. -   Colour:     -   -   Blush colour.—This blush colour is generally red and orange,             more than 90% of the surface. The percentage of the blush on             the fruit skin surface can vary, and is generally dependant             upon the prevailing conditions under which the fruit was             grown.         -   Ground colour.—Orange.         -   Fruit stem.—Medium in length.         -   Diameter.—Considered average.         -   Colour.—Pale yellow-green. -   Flesh:     -   -   Ripens.—Evenly.         -   Texture.—Very firm, juicy and dense.         -   Fibers.—Few, small, and tender ones are typically found.         -   Aroma.—Very slight, balanced, very aromatic.         -   Eating quality.—Considered very good.         -   Flavor.—Considered semi sweet. The flavor is considered both             pleasant and balanced.         -   Juice.—Moderate.         -   Brix.—This characteristic varies slightly with the number of             fruit per tree; prevailing cultural practices; and the             surrounding climatic conditions.         -   Flesh colour.—Orange yellow without pigmentation. -   Stone:     -   -   Type.—Clingstone.         -   Size.—Considered medium to large for the variety. The stone             size varies significantly depending upon the tree vigor,             crop load and prevailing growing conditions.         -   Length.—Average.         -   Width.—Average.         -   Diameter.—Average.         -   Form.—Ovoid.         -   Base.—The stone is usually rounded to slightly oblique             relative to the ventral side. -   Apex:     -   -   Shape.—The stone apex has a small prominent tip.         -   Stone surface:         -   Surface texture.—The pit is irregularly furrowed toward the             apical end. Pitting is generally more present and noted on             the lateral sides and toward the base.         -   Ridges.—The surface texture is generally characterized by             more prominent ridges along the ventral edges and is more             prominent at the apical tip. -   Ventral edge:     -   -   Width.—Considered medium. -   Dorsal edge:     -   -   Shape.—Full, lightly grooved, and having a reasonably smooth             margin.         -   Stone colour.—The colour of the dry stone is generally             considered a reddish brown.         -   Tendency to split.—Splitting has rarely been noted. -   Kernel:     -   -   Size.—The kernel is considered medium-large.         -   Form.—Considered ovoid.         -   Pellicle.—No pubescent.         -   Colour.—brown-orange.         -   Use.—The subject variety ‘JULIENICE’ is considered to be a             peach tree of the medium season of maturity, and which             produces fruit that are considered firm, attractively             coloured, and which are useful for both local and very long             distance shipping.         -   Keeping quality.—Excellent. Fruit stayed one week on tree             before harvest and then, has stored well up to 3 weeks after             harvest at 1.0 degree Celsius.         -   Shipping quality.—Considered good. The fruit of the new             peach variety showed minimal bruising of the flesh or skin             damage after being subjected to normal harvesting and             packing procedures.         -   Resistance to insects and disease.—No particular             susceptibilities were noted. The present variety has not             been tested to expose or detect any susceptibilities or             resistances to any known plant and/or fruit diseases.

Although the new variety of peach tree possesses the described characteristics when grown under the ecological conditions prevailing near ELNE, FRANCE, it should be understood that variations of the usual magnitude and characteristics incident to changes in growing conditions, fertilization, pruning, pest control and horticultural management are to be expected. 

1. A new and distinct peach tree variety as illustrated and described, characterized by a higher earlier bloom, a longer lifetime and bigger fruits. Moreover, trees are very vigorous. 